Bring the kids to any (or all!) of the wonderful kid’s entertainment which is on during the week including acclaimed Scottish Theatre Company Frozen Charlotte who bring their multi-award-winning show Paperbelle to The Factory Performance Space on Saturday July 13th. An enchanting piece of theatre suitable for ages 2 to 5. Whilst the little uns enjoy Paperbelle, older brothers and sisters can join in the fun of our drumming and percussion workshops, Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes or enjoy a reading and workshop with children’s book author and illustrator Chris Judge. And all ages are welcome at our Outdoor Street Party in the Italian Quarter with music, street theatre and the ever popular Kiddie’s Global Disco.

Fred and Alice showing at the Factory Performance Space is suitable for both adults and kids and includes lunch or light supper. And not to forget about Park Fest our family fun day in Sligo’s Peace Park and this year with a vintage circus theme featuring magic shows, sword swallowing, strong men, bearded ladies, puppet shows and many other such quirky nods to nostalgia. See full programme details here!

A vintage circus theme runs right through our festival programme. Think bright lights, late nights, smoke, mirrors, music and madness. Jerry Fish and his constantly mutating band of misfit musicians aim to transport you to Carnival. Le Cabaret Oublié brings you on a spectacutular voyage into the absurd with a family of clowns!

Park Fest (thanks to the CROWD) will be the recreation of an OLDE WORLDE CIRCUS CARNIVALE. Check out our ideas board on PINTEREST. Join in the fun by donning a magnificent mustache, a beautiful bonnet or vintage headpiece!

Thanks to many generous Fund It pledgers Park Fest will include the re-creation of an Olde Worlde Circus Carnivale in Sligo’s Peace Park on Sunday July 14th with magicians, sword swallowers, strong men and bearded ladies, puppet shows, acrobatics, music and much much more.

Happy Yeats Day everybody! Cairde’s participation in the Season of Yeats was initiated last year and is going from strength to strength.

This year’s Park Fest will be a part of the annual Season of Yeats. Celebrating the fascination with Jack b Yeats had with the circus. Thanks to many generous #fundit pledgers #parkfest will include the re-creation of an Olde Worlde Circus Carnivale in Sligo’s Peace Park on Sunday July 14th with magicians, sword swallowers, strong men and bearded ladies, puppet shows, acrobatics, music and much much more.

We launched our festival programme in Source Sligo on Thursday May 30th with a difference! Mayor David Cawley launched the programme and spoke of the great value of the Cairde Arts Festival to Sligo. He spoke highly of the festival programme which is a true celebration and which is inclusive, involving many sections of the Sligo community.

Failte Ireland representative Alison Crummy spoke about the great importance of festivals to Ireland’s vibrant cultural tourism and the importance role which the Cairde Arts Festival plays within this. Both Mayor Cawley and Alison spoke of Cairde’s participation in the Season of Yeats which was initiated last year and is going from strength to strength.

The proceedings then took a comic turn when Special EU Minister for Culture (Courtesy of Ouch Entertainment’s Colm O’Grady) took over the launch to cut the ribbon. Having forgotten to bring a scissors, he luckily found an angle grinder nearby and cut the ribbon with gracious assistance of Our Lord Mayor and Alison Crummy to the rapturous applause of a surprised and delighted audience.

The proceedings were then completed with a spectacular fire performance on the pavement outside Source Sligo by Galway based Realta Entertainment.

Keep an eye out for the stunning programme featuring a bright illustration by Steve Simpson which will be available around town in the very near future.

Cairde arts festival programme is really taking shape, confirmed acts such as the amazing Jerry Fish are on the bill. This years festival promises to be a special one with an array of different activity’s for young to old. The annual Parkfest of course will be taking place on Sunday 14th July and expect an exciting line of music as well as providing a few surprises to entertain and astonish!